John Egan was Brentford's hero once more with a late, late equaliser for Brentford at Aston Villa this evening.

Egan, the scorer of both goals in last month's win over Ipswich, stole in at the far post to poke home after Scott Hogan had just failed to convert a brilliant cross from sub Sullay Kaikai with three minutes remaining.

It was no more than the Bees deserved for a battling second half display which had a Villa side who had been rampant in the first 45 sitting back and earning the ire of the home fans.

Indeed, if Dean Smith's men has been overrawed and outplayed in the first 45, they came out a different side after the break and came close to putting another former European Cup winner to the sword.

Opener : Jonathan Kodjia puts Villa in front

They fell behind on 18 mins when Jonathan Kodija cut in from the right, inside makeshift left back Andreas Bjelland, and found the top corner with a stunning shot from the edge of the area, giving Dan Bentley no chance.

It could have been two when Villa broke quickly after Lewis Macleod lost posssesion, forcing Bentley into a smart stop from Ritchie De Laet, while Ross McCormack, roundly booed by the travelling fans for his Fulham connects, should have done better with a free header from Kodija's cross.

Brentford's first sniff came just before the break when a defensive mistake let in Scott Hogan, but he snatched at his shot when he perhaps had the time to take another touch and Pierluigi Gollini saved, while Nico Yennaris and Josh Clarke both went close in first half injury time.

Hogan again had a sight of goal after the break when he latched onto a semingly lost cause of a ball into the box from Yennaris and tested Gollini from a tight angle, and when he did find the back of the net soon after, the Bees striker was flagged offside.

Hands up: Scott Hogan and Aly Cissokho

Sub Sullay Kaikai also got onto the end of a deep cross from Maxim Colin at the back post which was well defended by De Laet, but Villa also came close to extending their lead.

Ayew twice went close from the edge of the area, firing over and forcing a fine save from Bentley, while Egan blasted clear after the same player cuts in from the left and lined up to shoot, and Kodija just failed to get on the end of a dangerous cross from the left.

But just when it seemed Villa would take the points, the Bees sent their travelling army into raptures with three minutes left when Egan struck, and Ryan Woods almost grabbed an injury time winner, forcing a diving save from Gollini after being teed up by Lasse Vibe.